My stock Becker unit in my 500E is starting to crackle and pop when asked to do just about anything, the CD changer has been dead for over a year, so I guess it is time to upgrade.

I have considered the Nak CD45z or CD700 as replacements based on sound quality and appearance.

The question I have for the community is of the people that have them, would you buy them again. I have found lots of websites that no longer sell them and Scott (SCLJA) seemed to indicate that they do not produce the quality product that their reputation seems to have been built on.

Is Nakamichi Mobile Audio on the way back up or on its way out?


The only other unit that I have seen lately is a NAV unit from Harmon Kardon at www.crutchfield.com - but I don't know if it has the sound quality I am looking for and it costs more than the CD700...

Thanks for any ideas / opinions.

Bryan

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Bryan Harter
1992 500E Smoke Silver
2002 CLK55 AMG Cab Silver/Black
2001 Harley Fatboy - Pearl White
2004 F150 FX4 Silver/Grey
1969 GTO Liberty Blue
1956 F100 Black

Nakamichi is not as reliable as it used to be and their company in the US has just been sold. The cd 700 is one of the nicer units nak makes and it is really simple. I wouldn't look to the traffic pro for the best quality sound. I have my own opinions but there are not many units that are as simple and clean as the factory becker. I wish I could have more input on radio design as most of them are like Las Vegas.

Scott@lajollaaudio

__________________
The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

Is it true that Fujitsu-Ten owns Nak now?
If so, that might bode well for the future of Nak. Maybe they will chose to keep it as their top line and put some quality back into the name. Drop the low end units and focus on the $1000+ market. Then Eclipse and F-10 could be positioned below that.

__________________
Bryan Harter
1992 500E Smoke Silver
2002 CLK55 AMG Cab Silver/Black
2001 Harley Fatboy - Pearl White
2004 F150 FX4 Silver/Grey
1969 GTO Liberty Blue
1956 F100 Black

Scott,

I hear you! I love the Becker, for its simplicity and ease of use. I also love the volume paddle! Seems so natural, up/down.
In general it has a nice feel to all the buttons, it is readable in bright light....just too bad it has some basic design issues.
I wish Becker still made something similar.

The McIntosh is truely clean but almost too retro and the flourescent blue looks great at home but not in my car.

The old Blaupunkts had a nice look and feel, but pretty bad from a reliability standpoint.

Another old favorite was the Soundstream, but I don't think they were all that great long term.

I have found some of the newer DVD/NAV units seem to have less "Las Vegas" to them when they are closed, but they sure come alive when the screen pops up!

How about a group buy? We design a unit and have someone build it? Hmmmmm? I have some friends who do custom electronic prototypes....

__________________
Bryan Harter
1992 500E Smoke Silver
2002 CLK55 AMG Cab Silver/Black
2001 Harley Fatboy - Pearl White
2004 F150 FX4 Silver/Grey
1969 GTO Liberty Blue
1956 F100 Black

It takes a lot of loot to get someone to make the 1st one!

__________________
The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

No, fujitsu ten doesn't own nak now.

__________________
The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

I spoke with some people at Nakamichi USA in CA this morning.
I found was that the contact information for dealers was not on their website, the phone number listed has changed. The Nakamichi Technical group at the new number consists of 4 people and you should not bother calling them as they don't handle sales information inquiries.

I did finally speak a helpful gentleman at Nakamichi who confirmed that Nakamichi USA was recently sold but didn't offer any information as to who they may be owned by, but stressed that it was not Fujitsu-Ten.

He did say they will have 6 new models for 2003 release in April.
So I will wait to see how the cards fall. Hopefully my Becker holds up and maybe one of the other manufacturers (Eclipse are you listening?) will offer a clean looking hi quality deck with usable features and leave out the swimming dolphin displays.....

__________________
Bryan Harter
1992 500E Smoke Silver
2002 CLK55 AMG Cab Silver/Black
2001 Harley Fatboy - Pearl White
2004 F150 FX4 Silver/Grey
1969 GTO Liberty Blue
1956 F100 Black

fujistu-ten is known as "eclipse" I have a unit in my 190E-2.3-16V and it is awsome I think they are the best they are very reliable and if ever stolen you can fill out a police report and bring that report to an authorized Eclipse dealer and you get a new one for free check it out

Thanks Double D !

I think the Eclipse is a great unit in many respects. I am leaning that way, I just wish the looked more European, I believe they did a few years ago when I had looked at them.

I am anxiously awaiting the 2003 models...

__________________
Bryan Harter
1992 500E Smoke Silver
2002 CLK55 AMG Cab Silver/Black
2001 Harley Fatboy - Pearl White
2004 F150 FX4 Silver/Grey
1969 GTO Liberty Blue
1956 F100 Black